SYDNEY: Australian shares ended higher for a second straight session on Thursday, with financials leading gains, as an upbeat US Fed survey and hopes of more stimulus boosted risk appetite. The S&P/ASX 200 index finished 0.8% higher to close at 6,111.60, its highest in over a week.

Heavyweight financials finished 1.3% higher, supported by a strong showing from top lenders Westpac Banking Corp and Commonwealth Bank of Australia which rose 1.6% and 0.8%, respectively. Healthcare stocks also finished in the black, with industry giant CSL gaining 1.3%.

Miners were dragged lower by a 2.3% decline in global miner BHP Group even as iron ore futures rose. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 1.3%, its most in nearly two weeks, to end at 12,055.05. Local shares of Westpac Banking Corp and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group clocked gains of 1.7% and 0.9%, respectively.